Belt-clasp



(No Model.)

G. E. ZELTMACHER.

BELT CLASP. Us No. 406,249. Patented July 2, 1889.

WITNESSES lA/I/E/VTOH ATTORNEY U ITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE E. .ZELTMAOHER, OF BROOKLYN, NEWV YORK.

BELT-C LA'S P.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 406,249, dated July 2, 1889.

Application filed April 8, 1889. Serial No. 305,834- (No model.)

ToaZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE E. ZELTMACHER, of the city of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented anew and Improved Belt-0lasp, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to an improvement in belt-clasps, and has for its object to provide a clasp of simple and durable construction and of neat appearance capable of being manufactured at a minimum cost.

The invention consists in the novel construction and combination of the several parts, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth, and pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompany-' ing drawings, forming apart of this specification, in which similar letters and figures of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the clasp. Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the body of the clasp. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the keeper-bar, and Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the body of the clasp.

The clasp comprises a body or latch section 10, provided with a lock-lever 11, and a keeper-bar or retaining-section 12. The body is preferably made of a singlepiece of metal, and in the under face at each side a longitudinal groove 13 is formed by crowding or pressing the metal outward, whereby at each side a concave surface 13 is obtained upon the inner face of the body and a convex surface upon the outer face. The center portion of the body is provided with a series of openings 14 to afford ventilation and render it as light as possible.

In forming the body a strip of metal is allowed to project from the outer side edge, preferably centrally of the same, which strip is bent inward upon itself beneath the said body to form a hook 15. Upon the opposite side edge, at each end of the body, a strip of metal is allowed to project in the blank in like manner to the side projection above referred to, which end strips are bent downward at a right angle to the body proper to form longitudinally-aligning cars 17. In the ears 17 the lock-lever 11 is pivoted, consisting of a rod and an angle-plate a, secured to said rod, provided with a series of teeth I; produced in the edge of one member, and 'a handle b integral with the other member. The lock-lever is so pivoted that in manipulating the handle the toothed portion will be rocked beneath one side concaved surface of the body.

The central open portion of the body is usually made more or less ornamental, representing, for instance, two linked snakes, and in said central surface of the body, preferably near the bottom, a staple or hook 18 is projected through one opening l t, to which staple or hook anydesired ornament may be attached for instance, a chatelaine; but the staple or hook may be dispensed with, if desired.

The keeper-bar or retaining-section 12 of the clasp consists of apiece of metal, usually bent upon itself to form spaced upper and lower parallel members d and d, between which one end of the belt 20 is inserted, the upper member d being indented longitudinally upon the under face, forming a corresponding projection upon the outer face, whereby a keeper 21 is produced, capable of receiving the hook of the body-section to unite the bar thereto.

The keeper-bar may be secured to the belt in any approved manner-for instance, by

rivets or spurs formed integral with the bar.

The body-section is secured to the belt by passing the latter between the teeth of the lock-lever and the under surface of the said body when the two are parallel, and then manipulating the lever to bring the teeth at a right angle to and in close contact with the belt.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. In a belt-clasp. the combination, with a body portion provided with a longitudinal groove in its under face. at each side and a hook integral with one side edge, of a toothed lock-lever-pivoted upon the under face beneath one of the grooves, and a keeper-bar consisting of a metal strap having its under face indented to receive the hook of the body, substantially as shown and described.

2. In a belt-clasp, the combination, with a body portion provided with longitudinal ICQ grooves in the under face at each side, a hook integral with one side edge, and ears projected downward from the ends of the grooves at the opposite side edge, of atoothed lock-lever pivoted in said ears, provided with a handle, and a keeper-bar consisting of a strip of metal bent upon itself, forming upper and lower parallel members, the upper member being provided with a raised portion upon the upper side, whereby a keeper I0 is produced to receive the body-hook, substantially as shown and described.

GEORGE E. ZELTMACIIER. \Vitnesses:

GEORGE C. ROBERTS, ALBERT G. ZELTMACHER. 

